Soft Cell

• Genre: Synth Pop
• Hometown: Leeds

About

One of the earliest and most successful synth pop groups, Soft Cell first burst onto the early '80s electro dance scene with such hits as "Tainted Love," "Memorabilia" and "Sex Dwarf." Made up of singer/songwriter Marc Almond and producer Dave Ball, the duo released a total of three albums before breaking up in 1984. Ball went on to found the famed techno outfit, the Grid. Almond formed Marc and the Mambas, and then Marc Almond and the Willing Sinners before finally embarking on a successful solo career. In March 2001 --17 years after their split -- the two reunited for a Soft Cell concert in London. The success of the show led to the recording and release of 2002's Cruelty Without Beauty. That same year, Almond was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident, putting future work with Soft Cell on hold.

- Jamie Sanchez